THE WAIT IS OVER

The YMCA's Fish Out of Water Are No Longer

No, this isn't some New Age Christmas decoration that greeted members at the YMCA on Thursday morning. Rather, these balloons signaled the dedication ceremony of the refurbished swimming pool later that morning.  

The pool, which has been closed for major renovation since May 27, was originally scheduled to re-open at the end of the summer. But due to unforeseen set-backs, that date was pushed back, and back, and back, much to the chagrin of the 75+/- regular lap swimmers and aqu exercisers who became known affectionately as Fish Out of Water.

The positive spin is that during the summer, Veterans Memorial Pool, Walla Walla's newly constructed public outdoor pool, cooperated with the YMCA to offer passes to this dedicated group. But when it closed at the end of August, the Y swimmers were left stranded once again. Up stepped Whitman College to offer these landlocked aquaphiles access to their indoor pool for lap swimming.

But come Wednesday, December 27, these Fish Out of Water will be forced to disband as the new YMCA pool will be open for lap swimming, with aqua classes to follow on January 2, 2018.

Yes Virginia, there is indeed a Santa Claus. 

The new pool is completely rebuilt including new piping, filtration and re-circulation systems, 

along with new gutters, non-slip decking, and tile. 

Thursday's ceremony was actually a re-dedication of the pool to be named the F.D. Applegate Memorial Pool in honor of the man who guided and directed the early development of Walla Walla's YMCA during the first half of the 20th century. 

Fish Out of Water participants were also honored with a raffle and thank-you gifts for their dedication and patience during the last 6 1/2 months of pool construction.